Wild Tobago

Dr Anjani Ganase, coral reef ecologist, shares her favourite Caribbean reef experiences   In 2013, I had the luxury of travelling to many destinations across the Caribbean as part of the global coral reef mapping project known as the Catlin Seaview Survey ( https://www.catlinseaviewsurvey.com/ ). During this time, we spent eight months diving in 13 countries in the Caribbean, including Bermuda in the northern Atlantic Ocean. Being able to view so many reefs – about 40 dive sites per country - in a short time, painted a picture of the incredible variety of reefs that the Caribbean had to offer. All are uniquely shaped by the environments where they occurr: the hurricane belt of northern Caribbean countries, temperate ocean conditions, swirling currents, proximities to rivers, the edge of continental shelf. Each reef is special and singular.   Here are five favourite reef experiences in the Caribbean:   Coral reefs of Belize. Photo courtesy XL C...

Anjani Ganase, Trinbagonian marine biologist, continues her weekly exploration of marine Tobago. Travel with her to Belize and Mexico where the XL Catlin Seaview Survey team surveyed the second biggest barrier reef in the world. Follow Anjani Ganase on twitter: @AnjGanase In 2013, I worked on an underwater coral reef mapping project called the XL Catlin Seaview Survey that allowed me to dive many reefs across the Caribbean. On one journey we explored the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, along the Yucatan Peninsula in the Western Caribbean. This reef is second to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, and extremely vital to the health of the Caribbean Sea. Belize Barrier Reef Island. Photo by Anjani Ganase BELIZE We started in Belize, the only English speaking country in Central America. I wondered how much Trinidad and Tobago might have in common with Belize. Quite a lot, as it turned out: the “creole” language, the cheesy lyrics of...